Anti-theft device for automobiles

Claim 1

In combination with mechanism for operating an automobile, said mechanism including a foot brake pedal having a brake lever secured thereto, and a gear shift lever mounted on a steering column, an anti-theft device comprising: an elongated rod having a first return bend therein adjacent one end and forming a U-shaped hook which is hooked to the brake lever and retained by the foot brake pedal, a substantially closed connecting eye therein adjacent the remaining end, and an angle bend therein adjacent the hook, whereby the hook extends at an angle to the body of the rod, a flexible chain having a plurality of interconnected ring links and extending between said remaining end of the rod and the gear shift lever, said connecting eye being permanently connected to the terminal link at one end of said chain, and a padlock having a shackle connecting a selected link adjacent the remaining end of said chain to the gear shift lever, said padlock serving to lock the device to the foot brake pedal and the gear shift lever to prevent operation of either of them, each of said rod, chain, and shackle members being constructed of hardened steel, said device thereby being adapted to be wrapped around a steering column to interconnect a foot brake pedal and a gear shift lever which are not interconnectable along a straight line and also being adapted for compact storage when not in use.